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11 Jun, 2015 by Cathy
I met with Mr. Hanks seeking assistance in obtaining alimony that my ex-husband had not paid for several months. His counsel to me was to write a letter requesting the behind payments, when I received no reply he also sent a letter of request, again no reply. This was my first insight into Mr. Hanks ethics and moral code....while he represented me in this case, he treated all involved with dignity....offering the opportunity for my ex to bring the balance due before going into court. I again was impressed with the due diligence that Mr. Hanks and his assistant performed in representing my request, at the same time conferring with my ex-husband to give him the opportunity to resolve the payment issue before going before the judge.
In all of my conversations with Mr. Hanks, I felt a genuine sense of respect , a confidence in his abilities and knowledge of my matter, and a integrity of character that is far too often missing. I would recommend James B. Hanks without any hesitation!!
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14 Jan, 2014 by Anonymous
When my grandfather passed away, Mr. Hanks helped us file the appropriate documents to get my grandfather's estate out of probate. He helped us quickly and efficiently. We were so grateful for his kindness and expertise at that difficult time. He is an excellent attorney.
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19 May, 2013 by Anonymous
This was the worst experience of my life. He was over priced, having his paralegal do the majority of the work which was mostly reading over what I wrote and putting into a template (i.e. had no value). He would call me up randomly and discuss things unrelated to the case and bill me for it. He did not seem to care or put effort into my case and reviewed it on the way to court with little to say at court. If anything, he seemed to give fuel and power to the other attorney and reiterated what was already written. I was ill advised and seemed worse off having hired him.
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15 Feb, 2024 by Chelsey feldman
I worked with Kevin Tanner through my employer's legal insurance program. I reached out to him for a consultation on a car accident settlement with an insurance company. In just 30 minutes, he gave me valuable advice that enabled me me settle the claim for a very fair payment from the insurance company. He was also very honest in his recommendations and did not try to upsell me on expensive services I didn't need for my situation.
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20 Dec, 2023 by Christian knighton
Attorney Karra Porter said she would send a gramma request to get a 911 call and other police records for our family. After a month or two I called back to follow up and her paralegal stated that they had forgot to do it due to a family emergency but that they would definitely still do it. After another month or so I called back to see if there were any updates and was not called back. Over a period of close to 4-6 months they have not returned my phone calls or voicemails. At one point the receptionist told me that Karra would call me back the next day and she did not. If they were not interested or willing to look into this I would have found another attorney. But both Karra and her paralegal said they would do this for me and they did not; or if they have done it they have not given me any updates. Due to this delay we have now passed the 1 year mark of my family member’s passing and may not be able to hold the city accountable if there was in fact any neglect of duty. I believed that Karra was sincere in her willingness to help out my family but due to either her failure to act or failure to inform us of any actions taken, she has done our family more harm than if she would have simply declined.
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22 Oct, 2023 by Louis ossola
Tanner Lenart did an outstanding Job in representing us to get our Liquor License for our new business on time and a 100% completed. I would recommend this firm to anyone. Very professional and very timely in all matters.
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15 Feb, 2024 by Chelsey feldman
I worked with Kevin Tanner through my employer's legal insurance program. I reached out to him for a consultation on a car accident settlement with an insurance company. In just 30 minutes, he gave me valuable advice that enabled me me settle the claim for a very fair payment from the insurance company. He was also very honest in his recommendations and did not try to upsell me on expensive services I didn't need for my situation.
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20 Dec, 2023 by Christian knighton
Attorney Karra Porter said she would send a gramma request to get a 911 call and other police records for our family. After a month or two I called back to follow up and her paralegal stated that they had forgot to do it due to a family emergency but that they would definitely still do it. After another month or so I called back to see if there were any updates and was not called back. Over a period of close to 4-6 months they have not returned my phone calls or voicemails. At one point the receptionist told me that Karra would call me back the next day and she did not. If they were not interested or willing to look into this I would have found another attorney. But both Karra and her paralegal said they would do this for me and they did not; or if they have done it they have not given me any updates. Due to this delay we have now passed the 1 year mark of my family member’s passing and may not be able to hold the city accountable if there was in fact any neglect of duty. I believed that Karra was sincere in her willingness to help out my family but due to either her failure to act or failure to inform us of any actions taken, she has done our family more harm than if she would have simply declined.
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22 Oct, 2023 by Louis ossola
Tanner Lenart did an outstanding Job in representing us to get our Liquor License for our new business on time and a 100% completed. I would recommend this firm to anyone. Very professional and very timely in all matters.
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15 Feb, 2024 by Chelsey feldman
I worked with Kevin Tanner through my employer's legal insurance program. I reached out to him for a consultation on a car accident settlement with an insurance company. In just 30 minutes, he gave me valuable advice that enabled me me settle the claim for a very fair payment from the insurance company. He was also very honest in his recommendations and did not try to upsell me on expensive services I didn't need for my situation.
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20 Dec, 2023 by Christian knighton
Attorney Karra Porter said she would send a gramma request to get a 911 call and other police records for our family. After a month or two I called back to follow up and her paralegal stated that they had forgot to do it due to a family emergency but that they would definitely still do it. After another month or so I called back to see if there were any updates and was not called back. Over a period of close to 4-6 months they have not returned my phone calls or voicemails. At one point the receptionist told me that Karra would call me back the next day and she did not. If they were not interested or willing to look into this I would have found another attorney. But both Karra and her paralegal said they would do this for me and they did not; or if they have done it they have not given me any updates. Due to this delay we have now passed the 1 year mark of my family member’s passing and may not be able to hold the city accountable if there was in fact any neglect of duty. I believed that Karra was sincere in her willingness to help out my family but due to either her failure to act or failure to inform us of any actions taken, she has done our family more harm than if she would have simply declined.
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22 Oct, 2023 by Louis ossola
Tanner Lenart did an outstanding Job in representing us to get our Liquor License for our new business on time and a 100% completed. I would recommend this firm to anyone. Very professional and very timely in all matters.
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12 Nov, 2019 by Ryan helms
They wont help if its too hard for them
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10 Jun, 2019 by Daniel ashmore
29 May, 2018 by Ilma dizdarevic
Sean and his team kept a consistent line of communication and made me feel comfortable through the duration of my case. He went out of his way to make me feel like my case and concerns were important and kept me informed of everything that was going on. I felt like he was reliable and I would definitely recommend Utah Freedom Fighters to anyone who needs legal assistance. Thanks!!
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01 May, 2024 by Britt herman
24 Apr, 2024 by Brie sesso
24 Apr, 2024 by Kenna orgill
We used Kirton McConkie to finalize two adoptions, and they were excellent! Larry Jenkins and Kelly Land are kind, quick to respond, knowledgeable, and incredibly helpful. Both experiences went quickly and smoothly, and we couldn't have been happier with our choice!
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01 May, 2024 by Britt herman
24 Apr, 2024 by Brie sesso
24 Apr, 2024 by Kenna orgill
We used Kirton McConkie to finalize two adoptions, and they were excellent! Larry Jenkins and Kelly Land are kind, quick to respond, knowledgeable, and incredibly helpful. Both experiences went quickly and smoothly, and we couldn't have been happier with our choice!
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08 May, 2023 by Autumn
During a custody case, I needed him to help me file paperwork and get things going. He was terrible at communication, I had to call every day multiple times a day just to get a response. I had to call the court on numerous occasions to figure out what was going on in my case. After one phone call with the court, I found out that he made a mistake on the paperwork and had to refile but he never did. This was back in February it is now May and still hasn't been filed. I was told that they would be closing the case shortly if there was no action done by the attorney. I am severely disappointed as I had to pay the fees upfront and now I am essentially ghosted. I am a struggling single mom and I am not happy with him at all. He should just stick to estates and not do family law at all.
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31 Aug, 2020 by Anonymous
I hired him in November 2018 To get some clarity on some divorce decree issues. He bid the case at under $2500 and estimated it would take 2 or 3 months. 15 months later and after nearly $10K I fired him. Thru this process he was was unable or unwilling to have things happen that he promised. His billing was random in timing. I handled the case pro se and had it settled in 6-7 months. I would never hire him again. Complete waste of money and would not recommend him to anyone. Completely dissatisfied client
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11 Sep, 2019 by Anonymous
Used his firm for an adoption case and it was a nightmare. From the beginning he was horrible at sticking to timetables and keeping us updated. With it being a family law case and one that was highly sensitive anyway, there was not a lot of understanding on his part for that. He never bothered to even remember the children's names, or my last name for that matter. There was always misspellings, mistakes, etc. My biggest problem with was him keeping his word, filing correct documents and keeping us informed. We had better luck getting updates from the court house and eventually went with another firm that did the job he swore wasn't possible.
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21 Feb, 2024 by Anonymous
One star is too many, zero should be an option. The amount of damage Tamara did to my case is unforgivable. She made glaring errors, completely forgot to file orders, would ignore emails/calls/texts for months and months on end, and gave advice that has harmed the lives of many, including children.
She made no efforts to take accountability for what she did or try and fix the damage done, withdrawing when the full scope of her mistakes became apparent. It will take years to attempt to undo what she did, and more money than I can imagine.
Tamara should not be a licensed attorney. She has been reported to the office of professional misconduct with hundreds of pages of documented evidence. I will take all necessary steps to hold her accountable for her actions so she cannot do this to another unsuspecting client.
Do not consider her in your search for an attorney if you are looking for competency and professionalism, or even just an attorney you’d like to be able to get a hold of within a month two. There are bad attorneys, then there are attorneys who will ruin your life. Tamara is the latter.
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01 Feb, 2021 by Ashley
She helped me through some incredibly hard times this last year. I have PTSD and she did everything for me concerning my ex so I didn’t even have to speak directly to him. She helped my divorce go through and made me feel incredibly comfortable the entire time. She listens attentively and was always comforting and never judgmental. I can never thank her enough for all that she has done for me and my family.
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27 Aug, 2016 by Leslie
Our homeowners association hired Curtis as general counsel to help us (the board) with several issues, including rewriting our old, outdated CC&Rs and bylaws. He knows every bit of the laws that apply to our HOA and the new documents are excellent. We couldn't have asked for better work. After using attorneys for years that don't specialize in HOA law (because we didn't know any better), we can't believe the difference. It's so much more efficient, helpful and valuable using an attorney that knows this area of the law so well. Thanks!
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21 Apr, 2015 by Anonymous
Hired Curtis to represent me in court. He was unable to express himself, allowed many obvious lies told be the opposing party to go unquestioned and assured me that there was no legal liability in the contract under dispute. Did very little preparation, likely none, for the court appearance, and thus lost the case. Lacks eloquence and persuasiveness, both of which can be verified on your first meeting with him. Find someone else.
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28 May, 2020 by Anonymous
I worked with McKenzie for several months. She is nice and helpful, but i was disappointed in her grasp or recall of the details of my case. I should have recognized the signs. I corrected the details in the case many times, in fact each document sent to me for approval needed corrections. At my hearing, while the opposing counsel was dressed professionally, spoke confidently and knew all his facts, McKenzie did not meet those same standards of professionalism. In her presentation of my case she often looked up and to the right, a sign that she was trying to remember or trying to formulate what to say. She even stated some facts of the case incorrectly in front of the judge. Part of our request was allowed to go to trial (which my ex wanted completely dismissed) and part of the opposing party's request was granted. The outcome wasn't all bad, but I was disappointed in the way she represented me. I spent a lot of extra money correcting the documents over and over.
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20 Sep, 2024 by Nicholas heaton
18 Jun, 2024 by Isaac pratte
06 May, 2024 by Danny
Trevor Fugate took over my divorce case after my previous lawyer, whom I'd only worked with for a couple weeks, left the practice for another firm. He caught up quickly with the particulars of my case, was great at responding to my emails, and explained everything going on clearly. He was also quite personable and easy to chat with for the five to six hours we were together in mediation. And last but not least, when my soon-to-be-ex-husband's lawyer kept (repeatedly) dropping the ball and stalling progress on the case, Trevor took it upon himself to do the other lawyer's job for him, pro bono, and push my divorce through the court. Great guy all around.
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12 Jan, 2024 by Irene kramer
16 Oct, 2023 by Gail christensen
I have called his office six times in a week and left three messages that were very lengthy. So he has all the information needed. Ihave given him my phone number several times and has not called me back. This message says he will get back with you shortly but I don't think he understands what shortly means.
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19 Jul, 2019 by Fran caughlan
I have been using Jim for 15 years! I recommend him.
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20 Sep, 2024 by Nicholas heaton
18 Jun, 2024 by Isaac pratte
24 Jul, 2023 by Kati
I am grateful for those who faithfuly manage the lord's assets. Grateful to be a part of a church that does so much for the world and they do it all without major fame or publicity. I pray for those who have lost their faith due to the materialistic and vain things of this world.
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20 Sep, 2024 by Nicholas heaton
18 Jun, 2024 by Isaac pratte
24 Jul, 2023 by Kati
I am grateful for those who faithfuly manage the lord's assets. Grateful to be a part of a church that does so much for the world and they do it all without major fame or publicity. I pray for those who have lost their faith due to the materialistic and vain things of this world.
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24 Mar, 2021 by Anonymous
Mr. Jensen is emotional and irrational. He seems to completely misunderstand the court's procedures. He went on an extensive diatribe bashing the character of one of the other parties during a preliminary hearing. The court was simply determining whether or not litigation should commence, and trying to determining the scope of discover. The judge had to tell him that his remarks were unnecessary and outside the purposes of the hearing that day.
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29 May, 2019 by Anonymous
He’s very irrational and emotional. He was unprepared and frankly I think his age may be hindering him.
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26 Oct, 2015 by Anonymous
Mike Jensen is excellent. I was involved in a family dispute. On a recommendation of another attorney, I hired someone else. I came to regret it because the other attorney(s) let things get out of hand. Plus they passed the case between three attorneys in under two months ("oh, he's suddenly really busy") while charging me fees for getting each of those attorneys up to speed, but letting the other side gain advantage. Mike shut the other side down. He knows statute and case law and uses them efficiently. My only regret was not hiring him from the start.
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02 Nov, 2020 by Anonymous
Amy was hired to represent my elderly Mom. She assured us she could help with our case because it was a large firm & if she were out of the office another attorney would help. It went to mediation, she did not intervene on our behalf, did not speak up for my mother. My brother & father took over $600,000.00 of their joint money from sale of a cabin & annuities. Amy said nothing. She was preoccupied with her sick mother. While understandable, I was also dealing with a sick mother. Amy forgot key points & was unavailable most of the time. Not once did she publicly stand up to the judge or the opposing lawyer. In fact her correspondence with him was usually asking about his family. If she did bother to offer advice & we followed it, we ended up paying some of the opposing attorney’s fees. A years litigation can not fit in this tiny review. We will never use her again, nor will we recommend her for any litigation. Since she is a partner, we will not recommend this firm.
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06 Sep, 2021 by Anonymous
I initially hired Katie after meeting and feeling a positive connection with her, as well as knowing she had the full backing of Rebecca Long Okura, who has a good reputation. I was in a 20 year marriage that had become controlling and quite rapidly deteriorated.
My then husband and I had made the decision in 2001 that I would stay at home with our daughter when she was born. I had no income of my own whatsoever. I had spent time helping out with my dad when he moved here to Utah in 2014, and became his main caretaker after a stroke in 2016 when I was given his power of attorney until his passing in late 2018. Our daughter graduated high school in 2019.
I was given an ultimatum and forced into being the one to file for divorce in early 2020. At the time that I hired her, I felt that Ms. McLain was really going to go to bat for me, as a 20 year unemployed, 55 year old woman, facing off against a husband who made an average of $25,000 per month and had been with the same company for 25 years, and would continue to have that earning capacity.
There are a lot of things that did not play in my favor, the pandemic being one of them, and an attorney that wasn’t aggressive and assertive enough to fight for what was really right for me is another. In the middle of April 2020 we attended 9 brutal hours of mediation and I was convinced to settle for nearly $100K less equity than what a mortgage broker’s comps placed the value of the marital home at, half the monthly alimony asked, no equity in several marital assets, no accounting for my future, my health, my children. Basically, I got hosed. My ex was having the best month of his career to date (I found out later from a co-worker) while he told the mediator that he was going to lose $150K of income in 2020 and was not made to show proof of current income. The best month of his career to date meant something like $40K. In April of 2020, mid pandemic. He had probably the best year of his life, and I paid Ms. McLain nearly $15,000 to walk away with so much less than I deserved. And now, to top it all off he just bought, in August of 2021, a nearly million dollar house without even having sold the previous one. Clearly he has had a change for the better, while less than 1 1/2 years ago he claimed he would not be able to afford to pay alimony and survive himself. I feel that if Ms. McLain had really gone to bat for me, she would have advised me to wait for mediation to take place, even though it was to the point where I just wanted it to be over. Or at least advised me to call his bluff and say I wanted to go to trial and see what might have happened. All of the hours that I spent going over finances, bank and credit card statements, etc, just for her office to charge me to go over the same things, nickel and diming me over emails and phone calls with me and his attorney, even months after the divorce was final.
I am absolutely devastated. All I want to do is get healthy and buy my own little home, start fresh, but I’m still paying medical bills from last year, and am struggling with financing because I don’t make enough. I am left feeling like I should have hired a different attorney, and maybe will have to now, even though I can’t afford to, to get what I should have gotten in the first place if Ms. McLain had lived up to what she had promised from the start.
Bottom line, I would not hire her again, and I really would not recommend her or her firm, as I was told that everything ultimately went through Ms. Long Okura, if you really need someone to fight for you. I feel like there are better attorneys and better firms out there.
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02 Feb, 2018 by Anonymous
We were referred to Travis to build trusts for our family and to transfer our business to more secure holdings. What a colossal mistake. After our initial engagement fees were paid, we were expecting to have a little extra money due. But bill after bill kept coming and wouldn’t stop. We tried to get an explanation on each charge, but to no avail. We finally had to contact another lawyer to stop all “work” being done for us and to transfer all our files away from them. The new lawyer had us done quicker, cheaper, and better than we could have hoped. Don’t make the same mistake my husband and I made. Steer clear of Travis and his firm.
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16 Feb, 2017 by Anonymous
We went to Travis to try to settle a $11,000 tax debt. We jump through hoops, spent thousands of dollars, and discovered that there were no calls or attempts made to lessen our debts. My husband and I finally called and got the relief we were looking for. Much to our complete surprise and disgust, we received another $2500 bill for "services rendered". When we attempted to call to discuss this we received the runaround. No one would speak to us. Not Travis or any other attorneys, accounting, paralegals; no one. Clearly they are in some financial issues and in doing further research which we should've done in the 1st Pl., Travis has been reprimanded by the state board. It's absolutely astonishing that someone like him and someone like this company is still in business.
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03 Feb, 2017 by Anonymous
We were looking for a reliable trust attorney to get our affairs in order and ensure our business was properly taken care of. When we sat down with Travis he went through this "system" that he has in which he attempted to get us to sign a $10,000 Engagement letter which would assess all of our assets. All we were really looking for was to tighten our trust and affairs. After we explain this to him we continue to get extremely annoying and unprofessional calls from his office weekly if not twice a week. Absolutely a terrible experience. Keep looking elsewhere!
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07 Feb, 2021 by Tammy
I signed a retainer for $1000 and was told, if work needed to be done over that amount that I would be informed and I would have to sign a new retainer. I was NEVER kept informed of hours being charged. They billed my credit card for $6031. They will not return my calls or emails. Will not do anything now that they have my money. I have contacted BBB & filed a complain with the Utah State Bar.
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07 Mar, 2014 by Anonymous
He was the leading attorney over my case. When I asked for my money back because of the lack of work that his junior attorney had not done; he wouldn't give me my money back. He claimed he did work for me that was not done. This firm, as well as this attorney, is not to be trusted.
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27 May, 2018 by Anonymous
What if your lawyer waived you off when you are about to respond to a judge's request as to who will be testifying in the court hearing that day? And you do so because you believed the lawyer when he told you just the prior evening that you may be able to speak?
But then when you try to speak again, the judge saying that the lawyer can let you do so, you get reprimanded by the lawyer, let alone him going back on his word?
Brent Wamsley, on that evening, said it was even a maybe that I could testify that day even though he would be the one responsible for me not being able to do so.
Consider also that Wamsley told me one thing but said something else on the same matter to others -- or me -- on at least three other occasions (there are words to fit that definition, aren't there?). Consider also that there were 21 total reasons in that hearing that disappointed me, I do not in any form or fashion recommend Brent Wamsley to be your legal counsel.
I actually recommend against it.
You may think I'm this upset because the hearing was relatively recent, but that is not so. The hearing was two-and-a-half weeks ago.
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04 Dec, 2021 by Anonymous
Jay Bell has been a very poor attorney he does not return phone calls he does not represent you well he does not care about protecting your Family Trust. We are very disappointed and everything he has not done to help us. He has collected our money to the amount of $15,000 which was a waste of time and money by hiring this horrible attorney. He won't even give a current update of how he spent the money when we asked for it. For your own protection be sure you make a contract in your favor before you do anything with this attorney beware and be cautionary.
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Questions? We have answers
What an Estate Planning Lawyer Can Do for You
An estate planning lawyer helps individuals plan for the management and distribution of their assets after death or during incapacitation. Their services involve drafting important legal documents, such as wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives. Estate planning attorneys work to ensure that your assets are transferred according to your wishes, minimize tax liabilities, and avoid probate court. They also help clients plan for potential long-term care needs and protect their estate from being diminished by healthcare costs.
By working with an estate planning lawyer, you can have peace of mind knowing that your loved ones will be cared for and that your estate will be managed efficiently and according to your desires.
When Should I Hire an Estate Planning Lawyer?
Hiring an estate planning lawyer is beneficial in many situations, especially when you want to ensure that your assets are handled properly after death. Common reasons to hire an estate planning lawyer include:
- Drafting a will: If you want to clearly define how your assets will be distributed after death, an attorney can draft a legally sound will.
- Creating a trust: For those looking to avoid probate or provide for loved ones over time, setting up a trust can help manage the distribution of assets.
- Planning for incapacity: An estate lawyer can help draft powers of attorney and healthcare directives so that your financial and medical decisions are made by someone you trust if you become incapacitated.
- Minimizing estate taxes: If your estate is large, a lawyer can help create strategies to reduce or eliminate federal and state estate taxes.
- Special circumstances: If you have minor children, blended families, or complex assets like businesses, an estate planning lawyer can create tailored solutions.
- Guardianship or conservatorship: If you want to designate guardians for minor children or ensure proper care for incapacitated adults, an attorney can help.
Hiring an estate planning lawyer is especially important if your estate is complex or if you want to ensure that your wishes are properly followed.
What Does an Estate Planning Lawyer Do?
An estate planning lawyer provides a range of services designed to help you organize your affairs and ensure your estate is managed according to your wishes. They can:
- Draft wills and trusts: Creating legally binding documents that dictate how your assets will be distributed and managed.
- Create powers of attorney and healthcare directives: Appointing someone to make financial or medical decisions for you if you become incapacitated.
- Minimize taxes: Developing strategies to reduce estate taxes, gift taxes, and other financial liabilities for your heirs.
- Help avoid probate: Structuring your estate plan to avoid probate, which can save time and money for your beneficiaries.
- Advise on long-term care planning: Helping you plan for potential healthcare needs in the future, including Medicaid planning and protecting assets from being depleted by nursing home costs.
- Assist with beneficiary designations: Ensuring that life insurance policies, retirement accounts, and other financial instruments are correctly designated.
- Handle probate and estate administration: If a loved one has passed away, an estate planning lawyer can help guide you through the probate process or act as an executor.
How Are Estate Planning Lawyers Paid?
Estate planning lawyers typically charge for their services in one of several ways, depending on the complexity of your estate and the type of services you need. Common payment structures include:
- Flat fee: Many estate planning services, such as drafting a will or trust, are charged on a flat-fee basis. The fee covers all work related to preparing the document.
- Hourly rate: For more complex planning, such as estate tax strategy or trust administration, lawyers may charge by the hour. Rates vary based on the lawyer’s experience and location.
- Retainer: Some lawyers require a retainer for more complex cases, such as ongoing trust management or estate administration. The retainer is an upfront payment that covers future legal services.
It’s important to discuss fees with your lawyer upfront to avoid unexpected costs.
How Much Does an Estate Planning Lawyer Cost?
The cost of hiring an estate planning lawyer depends on the complexity of your estate and the services you require. Here are some general guidelines:
- Simple wills or powers of attorney: A straightforward will or power of attorney may cost between $300 and $1,500, depending on your location and the lawyer’s experience.
- Trust creation: Establishing a trust, such as a living trust or revocable trust, can cost between $1,000 and $3,000 or more, depending on the complexity of your assets and estate planning needs.
- Comprehensive estate planning packages: Some lawyers offer packages that include wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives, which may range from $2,000 to $5,000 or more, depending on the estate’s complexity.
- Hourly rates: For ongoing services like estate administration or tax planning, lawyers may charge hourly rates ranging from $150 to $500 or more, depending on the lawyer’s experience.
Always get a clear estimate of costs during your initial consultation to ensure the services fit within your budget.
Top Questions to Ask an Estate Planning Lawyer
Before hiring an estate planning lawyer, it’s important to ask questions to ensure they are the right fit for your needs. Here are key questions to ask during your consultation:
-
What is your experience with estate planning?
Ensure the lawyer has substantial experience drafting wills, creating trusts, and handling other estate planning services. -
How will you charge for your services?
Clarify whether the lawyer charges a flat fee or by the hour and ask for a detailed estimate of costs. -
What strategies do you recommend for my estate?
A good lawyer should be able to explain the best strategies for minimizing taxes, avoiding probate, and ensuring your assets are distributed according to your wishes. -
How often should I update my estate plan?
Ask how frequently you should revisit your estate plan, especially if your financial situation or family dynamics change. -
Do you offer ongoing support or updates?
Some lawyers provide periodic reviews or updates to ensure your estate plan stays current with changes in your circumstances or the law. -
How will you help my beneficiaries if something happens to me?
Ensure the lawyer is willing to guide your heirs through the estate administration process or help manage your trust after you’re gone.
How to Check the Credibility of an Estate Planning Lawyer
To ensure you’re hiring a credible estate planning lawyer, follow these steps:
- Verify their state bar license: Check with your state bar association to confirm that the lawyer is licensed and in good standing, with no history of disciplinary actions.
- Look for estate planning certifications: Some lawyers are certified as estate planning specialists, which indicates they have extensive knowledge in this area of law.
- Read client reviews and testimonials: Online reviews on sites like Avvo, Google, or Martindale-Hubbell can provide insight into the lawyer’s professionalism and client satisfaction.
- Ask for references: A credible lawyer should be able to provide references from previous clients who can speak to their expertise and client service.
- Check for membership in professional organizations: Lawyers who are members of organizations like the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) or the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) often have a strong reputation in the field.
What Should I Prepare for My First Consultation?
To get the most out of your first meeting with an estate planning lawyer, it’s important to come prepared. Here’s what you should bring:
- List of assets and liabilities: Provide a detailed inventory of your assets, including real estate, bank accounts, retirement funds, investments, and personal property, as well as any debts you may have.
- List of beneficiaries: Be ready to discuss who you want to receive your assets and in what proportions. This includes naming guardians for minor children if applicable.
- Existing estate documents: Bring copies of any existing wills, trusts, powers of attorney, or other relevant estate planning documents.
- Questions about your estate goals: Write down your goals, such as avoiding probate, reducing taxes, or setting up charitable donations, so your lawyer can tailor a plan to meet your needs.
- Information on medical and financial decision-makers: Be prepared to discuss who you want to appoint for healthcare and financial decisions if you become incapacitated.
By being well-prepared, you can ensure a productive consultation and begin building a comprehensive estate plan that meets your needs and protects your loved ones.
